Importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet at your workplace
It’s essential for employers to promote healthy eating habits in the workplace because employees who eat healthy tend to be more productive and generally remain healthier. What employees choose to eat throughout the day can either slow them down or fuel them for a productive workday. Maintaining a balanced diet helps employees feel more energized and focused because the right diet gives them nourishment and keeps them charged throughout the day.
A healthy diet is also one of the best things employees can do for their overall health and well-being. Along with regular exercise, eating a balanced diet which will help reduce the risk of chronic illness and increase longevity. With nearly half of Indians living with chronic diseases that are partially preventable through healthy lifestyle choices, it’s crucial that employees are educated on how their food choices at work can affect them long-term. The risk for these chronic diseases – like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer – can be significantly reduced through a balanced, healthy diet.
Besides disease prevention, positive eating habits and a nutritious diet offer other physical and mental health benefits which includes:
- Healthier heart: A diet rich in heart-healthy fats, whole-grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables will help lower blood pressure and decrease cholesterol levels while increasing optimal heart health.
- Better sleep: While fatty and sugary foods can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep, the nutrients found in many healthy foods promote quality sleep. Fatty and sugary foods are one main cause for poor digestion.
- Increased energy: The vitamins, minerals and nutrients obtained from nutritious foods are essential for increasing and maintaining energy throughout the day.
- Mental health benefits: Many researches have shown that healthy, balanced diet can significantly lower the risk of depression and help support mental and emotional well-being. Food is one major component for emotional satisfaction and is used in almost all social gatherings.
- Stronger immune system: A balanced diet that includes healthy foods such as spinach, broccoli or yogurt, can boost the immune system and help reduce the chances of catching the common cold or flu.
- Better brain function: Consuming a variety of nutritious foods boosts memory, concentration and overall brain function. Food choices also have a direct effect on mood and attitude
- Increased productivity: Employees with healthy eating habits and diet tend to be more productive. The brain works its best when it’s fueled with the essential nutrients it needs. The increased levels of energy keep employees feeling productive all day long. Many fruits & vegetables like banana, watermelon, muskmelon, spinach, tomato and cucumber helps you to stay fresh at work especially during the peak summer season.
- Less sick days- A stronger immune system means less sick days. Employees that maintain a balanced diet are less likely to catch and spread illnesses around the office.
- Increased happiness: Many healthy foods – like almonds, nuts fish, sprouts or lentils – contain mood-boosting nourishment. Happier employees tend to improve office morale and stay more motivated.
It’s clear that positive nutritional choices set the foundation for a healthy workforce. Unfortunately, many employees don’t consume as many nutritious foods as they should. This makes sense because eating well at work can seem burdensome or inconvenient for full-time employees that don’t have healthy choices available in the office. Convenient lunches like chips, instant noodles, frozen food or fast food are tempting for a busy employee with a packed schedule. This is why it’s crucial that employers make an effort to help employees achieve healthy eating habits within the workplace.
